Erik ten Hag insists Anthony Martial is still not fit enough to play 90 minutes for Manchester United.
Martial has not played the full duration of a United match since the League Cup third round defeat to West Ham in September 2021 and he has not completed a Premier League game since the defeat to Sheffield United in January 2021.
The 27-year-old made his first United start since January 14 in the 2-2 Europa League quarter-final first leg draw with Sevilla in what was only Martial's 18th appearance out of a possible 50 games this term.
Also read: Two United players could return at Forest as club wait on Martinez
"Maybe he can but it's a risk and we can't take that risk in this moment," Ten Hag said of the prospect of Martial starting and finishing a match, "because we don't have so many options in the frontline with (Marcus) Rashford injured and (Alejandro) Garnacho injured, so we don't have so many options there.
"We have to be careful and also in the individual prospect we know when there's a lot of load he gets injured. So we have to build it, especially when the games come quick after each other, the recovery time is less, we have to take that in mind, manage that good and very careful.
"I think you see first half we were in a really good shape. Aaron Wan-Bissaka played very well, Antony played very well, Marcel Sabitzer did really well, Bruno played very good and Anthony Martial as well, Rapha and Licha. So there were many positives about yesterday's game."
Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay could return from injury against Nottingham Forest on Sunday but United are almost certainly without centre-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, Garnacho and Rashford. Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire are suspended for next week's cup ties against Sevilla and Brighton.
Maguire and Victor Lindelof are set to come in for Varane and Martinez at the City Ground while Ten Hag could name the same attack that lined up against Sevilla. But Ten Hag warned squad players about to get more playing time to not seek excuses for any rustiness.
"Every game is a battle, every game is a fight and you have to be ready for that fight," Ten Hag added. "We have a squad - I have said all season - we have more than 11 starters.
"So now others are on and when their time is there you have to show it and contribute to the team, you have to be ready. That is what we expect and that is what we demand.
"If you want to find excuses then you don't have to play for Man United, then have to look for another club. You have to wait for your moment and when the moment is there you have to contribute, bring a performance and that is what we demand.
"We have to adapt in the squad, we have to use the squad, that is also what we did yesterday. In the meantime, you have to win games, you need a tactical approach to win the games but I think we have good players, when we have problems - injuries suspension - we adapt to the squad."
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